Liquid measuring and dispensing apparatus



- April 24, 1928.

L. E. BAKER; ET AL I LIQUID MEASURING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS FiledJuly 24. 1924 2 she ts-sheet 1 INVENTOR M 6% Wf- WW Wafia.

ATI'OR may ' April 24, 1928 .L. E. BAKER ET AL LIQUID MEASURING ANDDISPENSING APPARATUS Filed July 24. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR 02M -M gymfl ATTORNE Patented Apr. 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES LINN-AEUS E. BAKER ANn'cAItEoLLn MEBE MAN,

or ron'r WAYNE, INDIANA,

sIeNoEs TO. WAYNE comrANY, INDIANA.

Application filed July 24,

Our invention relates to liquid measurin and dispensing apparatusof theso-calle visible type, used particularly in selling gasoline.

The visible container is preferably provided with a fixed drain-backpipe and the container is adapted to be filled above'the level of saidpipe and thereafter immediately automaticall drains back therethrough tozero on the sea e usually provided in connection with said container. Itis also provided with an adjustable tube on the serve side of theapparatus so that if from a five gallon container the purchaser desiresto buy two gallons of liqui the container may be filled, the adjustabletube brought down to the proper level, the serve valve opened and theliquid drained from the container to the two-gallon level. If thecustomer then orders 9 another gallon, thetube is lowered accordinglyand the additional gallon dispensed, the serve tube being t en at thethree gallon level, and so on until the customers tank 1s filled or thecontainer emptied, all without re-filling the container in whole or inpart.

Each such measurement will be accurate.

The principal object of our. lnvention s to provide a new and improved.apparatus of the character indicated, which will measure with accuracytities of the liquid to be dispensed, it being possible to dispense aplurality ofseparate quantities, the sum of which is within the capacityof the container, without re-filhng the said container.

Another object of our invention is to providean apparatus of few and,simple parts,

every operation of which is within plain.

view of the customer.

Our invention is illustrated in the accomf panying drawings, in which.

Figure 1 is a gasoline measurlng and dispensing apparatus in verticalsectiononthe' drain-back v the fill pipe,

line 1--1 of Fig. 2,

attendant valves being pipe, serve tube and shown in and fill pipe andsupport being broken away. F ig. 2 is an elevation on the serve tubeside of the apparatus with the bottom part of the casing broken away.

, Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig.. 2,'an'd'ing level, that is, zero,

diiferent desired quan full, the bottom part of the casing "PATENToFFICE;

A coEronA'rIoN or LIQUID MEASURING AND DISPENSTNG APIE'ARA'J TITS,

1924. Serial No. 727,987.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross section on the line 4-4='of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings A is the elevated visible container madeof glass or other transparent material with top a vented at a and withbottom a. The container A is provided withgra'duations a to indicate bythe level of the liquid being dispensed from said container the numberof gallons served.

The structure is supported upon a suitable base B and supports b bGasoline is forced fromthe source of supply (not shown) by any suitablemeans (not shown) through the fill pipe 0 into the visible containerA,,filling it. Return flow is prevented by the check valve 0.Excess'liquid in the container A is drained back to the source of supplythrough the open-ended overflow pipe D, terminating on a level with thezero graduation on the scale. All liquid can be drained'from thecontainer A to the overflo xv pipe D through the drain-back pipe E,controlled by the valve 6.- of the liquid standing at the maximumservapparatus, the operator is ready to serve gasoline to a customer.

Through the container bottom a extends the inlet branch 7 of the U-tubeF, which branch is provided with a stuflingbox a to make aleak-tightjoint, and is open-ended at the top to allow liquld to flowinto it from the contents of the container. he other. branch f of theU-tube F forms the liquid outlet, is open-ended; and the branches 7 andf are parallelwith each other and preferably terminate above atsubstantially the same height. Branches f and 1 terminates below thestufling box a in a connecting member 1*, which forms the bottom of theU-tube' F and together with branches f and 7 forms a continuous conduitfor:' the flow of liquid from the container A down through the pipethrough the connecting member f up through the branch f and out to thehose connection '5 through a vented drain valve fitting I of any usualtype.

The U-tube member has secureddsothe bottom of its connectin member f a.guiding rod f parallel with t e tubes f and f. This or roar WAYNE,INDIANA, Asi ith the level five gallons in this *cal' path of the lugf". Then the operator hole 'dle f is provided by which the U-tube F isvertically adjusted. A valve f in the connecting member f keeps thepassage between the lower ends of the tubes 7 and f normally closed, andthis passage may be opened by manipulation of said valve. Quantity stopmechanism of any convenient form is provided to limit the downwardmovement of the U-tube F. The mechanism shown consists of a quantitystop rod G with a knurled handle g, by which it is rotated, and sto s g,g '9 g and g thereon to limit the e pression of the U-tube F by contactwith the has all drained back through lug f", so as to limit thequantity of'gasoline dispensed to 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 gallons respectively.While in service, for accurate measurement, the U-tube member F alwaysremains full of gasoline.

The vent hole i in the drain valve I and I the vent hole 012 in thecontainer vent fitting which the U-tube F is set.

' lows:

' valve f" the top level of and containerv T tube F is omitted, it doesa maintain atmospheric pressure'at all times on the surfaces of theliquid in the U-tube F A respectively to insure. the same level ofliquid in the tube as in the container at the completion of any deliveryfor Many changes may be made in this a paratus without departing fromthe spirlt of our invention. If the valve f inthe U- not aflect theaccuracy of measurement attained and if so constructed, the flow ofliquid being dispensed, may at an time be quickly arrested by elevatingthe -tube F.

The operation of the apparatus is as fol- Assume that the particularapparatus has never been in, use; force gasoline into the container Auntil it. is filled 'toabove the levelof overflow pipe D, the U-tube Fbeing in any position desired, for instance,"in the position shown inFigs. 1 and'2, which is extreme raised position. The tube f will fillwith, gasoline to the valve i, then open the and lower-the U-tube Funtil it is filled W1th gasoline and overflows through the hoseconnection 2'. The U-tube F being: now full of gasoline; let us supposethat a customer comes and orders three gallons of gasoline. Thecontainer A ma be filled, that is, until when all excess gaso ine hasrun back to storage through the overflow pipe D, gasoline in thecontainer A stands at O, that is, the container ready to be served. Theerator grasps the handle 9 and rotates stop rod G until the-stop 9 liesin the verti-;

' grasps the handle f and lowers the U-.

tube F until the lug f contacts with the'stop the U-tube to belowoperator now opens theg'f' and will not permit ered further. The

showing five gallons in which said inlet branch passes, branchterminating within said valve i and holds it open until the gasoline hasdrained out through the hose to the customers car, so that the top levelof the gasoline in the container is at 3 on the scale. If the customerthen orders another gallon the stop rod G is rotated until the stop g is1n the path of the lug'f. The U-tube F isiurther lowered until said lugcontacts with sald stop and valve 7' is again opened and held open untilanother gallon has been served; and so 'on.

\Vhen the container A is to be drained back to storage the U-tube F maybe left in any position, the valve e is opened and kept open until thegasoline in the container A the drain-pipe pipe D to the nating' withinsaid container, the outlet' branch of said U-tube being formed for'use'in serving customers. p

2. In combination with a liquid measuring and dispensing apparatushaving anelevated container from which liquid is dispensed, a

1 rigid U-tube slidably adjustable in a vertical plane and havingbranches of substantially the same height and havin the inlet branchopenat the top, a stuflinghiox in the bottom of'said container inlet-branchpasses, said inlet branch terminating Within said container, the outletbranch of said U-tube being formed for use,

in serving customers, and means for equal-'- izing the pressures on thesurface of the uid if: the container and outlet branch of the U-tu e.

through which said- .3. In combination .with a liquid measur in and-disensing apparatus havin an elevified contziiner from which liquid isdispensed, a rigid U-tube slidably adjustable in a vertical plane andhaving branches of substantially the same height and having the inletbranch open at the top, a stufling v in the bottom of. the containerthrough saidinlet container, the outlet branch of said 'U-tube beingformed for use in serving customers, a valve cohtrolling the flow ofliquid through said U-tube, and means for equalizing the pres- Tsures'on the surfaces of the liquid in the container and outlet branch of 4.combination with a liquid measuring boa the U-tube.

. container, whereby and dispensing apparatus having an elevatedcontainer from which liquid is dispensed, a rigid U-tube slidablyadjustable in a vertical plane and having branches the same height andhaving the inlet branch open at the top, a stufling box in the bottom ofthe container through which said inlet branch passes, said inlet branchterminating within said container, the outlet branch of said U-tubebeing formed for use in servin customers, a valve controlling the flow 0liquid through said tube, said outlet branch being vertically adjustableso that its outlet end may take any position even with or below theeffective top and to the bottom of the the container may be completelydrained or drained to difierent levels ,b adjusting the vertical heightof said out et tube. .a

5. In combination with a liquid measurin and dispensing apparatus havlngan elevate container from which liquid is dispensed, a rigid U-.tubeslidably adjustable in a vertical plane and having branches ofsubstantiall the same height and having the inlet branc open at the top,a stufling box in the bottom of the container through which said inletbranch passes, said inlet branch terminating within said container, theoutlet branch of said U-tube being formed for use in serving customers,a valve controlling the flow of liquid through said U-tube, saidoutletbranch being vertically adjustable so that its outlet end may takeany position even with or below the effective top and to the bottom ofthe container, whereby the container can' be completely drained ordrained to different levels, by adjusting the vertical height of saidoutlet branch, and means for equalizing the pressures on the surfaces ofthe liquid in tha container and outlet branch of the U- tu e.

I 6. In combination with a liquid measuring and dispensing apparatushaving an elevated container from which liquid is dispensed, a ri idU-tube slidably adjustable in a vertical p ane and having branches ofsub stantially the same height and having the inlet branch open at thetop, a stuffing box in the bottom of the container through which saidinlet branch passes, said inlet branch of substantially plane and havingterminating within said container, the outlet branch of said U-tubebeing formed for use in serving customers, and stop mechanism to controlthe extent to which said tube shall be lowered to insure the dispensingof the quantity of liquid desired. I h

7 In combination with a liquid measuring and dispensing apparatus havingan elevated container from which liquid is dispensed, a rigid U-tubeslidably adjustable in a vertical branches of substantially height andhaving the inlet branch open at the top, a stuffing box in the bottom ofthe container through which said inlet branch passes, said inlet branchterminating within said container, whose outlet branch terminatesupwardly in vented means secured to the top of said tube and formed acap for the latter and a conduit used to serve customers, a valvecontrolling the flow of liquid through said tube, said outlet branch"being vertically adjustable so that its outlet end may take anyposition even with or below the effective top and to the bottom of thecontainer, whereby the container can be completely drained or. drainedto different levels, by ad usting the vertical height of said outthesame let branch.

8. In combination with a liquid measuring and dispensing apparatushaving an elevated container from which U-shaped element slidablyadjustable in a vertical plane, the vertical branches of said elementbeing connected at the bottom, said element of itself forming a conduitused in serving customers.

9. In combination with a liquid measuring and dispensing apparatushaving an elevated container from which liquid is dispensed, a U-shapedelement slidably adjustable in a vertical plane, the vertical branchesof said element deing connected at the bottom, said element of itselfforming a conduit used in and a valve in said U- I serving customers,shaped element adapted to control the flow of liquid therethrough.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

LINNAEUS E. BAKER. CARROLL L. MERRIMAN.

liquid is dispensed, a

